Response of a Field-Permeated Cylindrical Plasma Let Confined by a Field-Permeated Flowing Plasma

Abstract

The plasma-flow confinement of a cylindrical plasma jet is subjected to excitations by two azimuthally conducted current distributions, one immersed in each field-permeated plasma medium. Both flows are generally unequal but unidirectional; however, one or both of the plasma media may be stationary. A general approach is first made, followed by a specific case study wherein the confining plasma has the higher Alfvén speed and the difference between both Alfvén speeds exceeds, in magnitude, the difference between both flow speeds. If, additionally, both flows are either subAlfvénic or superAlfvénic, then the interface supports refracted and reflected dispersive waves; moreover, the permeating magnetic fields support non-dispersive flow-modified Alfvén waves, some of which also participate in reflection, while others constitute internal radiation. The steady state for time-independent currents is examined under different criteria. These admit stationary waves.